The destination expects 13 conventions, events and competitions to take place throughout the first quarter
Visit Atlantic City is heading into the new year with new attractions, citywide enhancements, flight routes, hotel renovations and more across the destination. 2026 brings the debut of Taste Atlantic City as the reimagined Atlantic City Restaurant Week, the all-new Solana Tower at Tropicana Atlantic City, and new nonstop flight routes to the Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) with service from several airports across Florida on Allegiant Airlines.
“2025 was immensely successful for Atlantic City following our integration with the DO AC brand at the start of the year,” said Gary Musich, President and CEO of Visit Atlantic City. “Now that Visit Atlantic City has a year under our belt with a greater focus on leisure travel, we are looking forward to building on this tremendous momentum. Of course, meetings and conventions will continue to be a large focus in 2026, and we are eager to keep showcasing Atlantic City through that lens as we look to attract both leisure and business travelers alike.”
Visit Atlantic City concluded 2025 as one of its most successful years to date. Looking ahead to 2026, the year is starting off strong with the return of popular events such as The Pool & Spa Show 2026, the Discover Boating Atlantic City Boat Show, the 2026 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, and more.
“The Atlantic City casino industry is optimistic about the year ahead,” said Mark Giannantonio, president, Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ). “In 2025, our properties invested hundreds of millions of dollars in capital improvements, delivering a world-class experience for our customers while supporting tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and generating vital tax revenue for the city and state. Those investments extended beyond our properties through our unwavering commitments to our local community. With new events, projects and experiences on the horizon, we are confident Atlantic City’s continued revitalization as a premier destination resort will build in 2026.”
WHAT’S NEW IN ATLANTIC CITY
Ocean’s 18 Mini Golf & Bar Now Open
Now officially open, Ocean’s 18 Mini Golf & Bar is a new multi-million-dollar entertainment destination featuring $500,000 in immersive hologram technology similar to that used at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Spanning 8,000 square feet across two stories, the venue offers a state-of-the-art mini golf experience for all ages.
Tropicana Atlantic City’s Solana Tower Set to Debut New Rooms
After announcing the debut of the newly renovated Solana Tower in May, the reimagined rooms at Tropicana Atlantic City are set to be completed in January. The renovation features 598 upgraded rooms and suites in the resort’s west wing and will further position Tropicana as one of the leading resorts in the destination.
Atlantic City Restaurant Week is being reimagined into a brand-new month-long food celebration titled Taste Atlantic City, taking place the entire month of March. The reinvented experience will feature tiered menus, a variety of flavor-packed events and boldly curated menus that promise a mouthwatering experience for locals and visitors alike. Ahead of March, a kickoff event will be held to launch Taste Atlantic City at the 11th Annual Captain’s Table during the Discover Boating Atlantic City Boat Show on Feb. 26, from 6 – 8 p.m. The event will feature dishes and tastings from local restaurants, breweries, wineries and distilleries, as well as culinary creations from some of the region’s best chefs.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Announces Big Night Live Partnership
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa announced a partnership with Big Night Live, the leading entertainment and hospitality group in Boston, to transform the former Premier Nightclub into a new 18,000-square-foot live entertainment venue. Opening in summer 2026, the redesigned space will strengthen Borgata’s position as a leading East Coast entertainment destination.
Allegiant Air Adds Non-Stop Florida Flights to Atlantic City International Airport
Allegiant Air has introduced a series of non-stop flights to Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) from key markets across Florida. Service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE) began in December, and flights from Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) and Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) will begin service on Feb. 13, 2026.
Pancho’s Mexican Taqueria to Close for Renovations in January
Pancho’s Mexican Taqueria will temporarily close on Jan. 5 for interior renovations, following last year’s façade upgrade supported by the Ducktown Community Development Corporation. The restaurant plans to reopen in February 2026 with a refreshed interior while continuing to serve their iconic and beloved dishes.
CRDA Approves Grocery Store Lease to Revitalize Renaissance Plaza
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) approved a long-term lease with Moran Foods to operate and improve a grocery store at Renaissance Plaza. Nearly $20 million in funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) is supporting major infrastructure improvements at the Plaza. This partnership launches a comprehensive revitalization effort that will transform the downtown shopping center into a safe, modern commercial hub while improving access to food for city residents.
Pacific Avenue Approved to be Repaved
In addition to the full repaving of Atlantic Avenue, Pacific Avenue is now next to be completely repaved with new synchronized traffic symbols to enhance the safety of both major avenues. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced $5.3 million in grant funding that was awarded for several enhancement projects in Atlantic City, with $1.8 million of that to go towards paving Pacific Avenue.
Monopoly Consumer Activation in Washington D.C.
Visit Atlantic City is bringing the excitement of America’s favorite board game to Washington, D.C., with a life-sized Monopoly activation taking over Union Station from Jan. 10-12. The three-day experiential pop-up invites locals and visitors alike to step directly onto a fully walkable game board and discover the modern-day thrills of Atlantic City through immersive, interactive play.
Q1 CONVENTIONS, CONFERENCES & EVENTS IN ATLANTIC CITY
The Pool & Spa Show will take place from Jan. 27 – 29 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. During this event, attendees will hear about new technologies in the pool and spa industry, gain must-have industry certifications through on-site courses and network with other pool and spa professionals. The show expects 12,000 attendees, 8,259 room nights and $13,333,371 in economic impact.
2026 New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) State Conference
This year’s New Jersey Music Educators Association State Conference will take place from Feb. 19 – 21 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Music educators from across the state will enjoy dedicated concert hours that feature several student performance groups from throughout the Northeast. The event expects 2,000 attendees, 658 room nights and $1,237,159 in economic impact.
Discover Boating Atlantic City Boat Show
As the one-stop shop for boats, boating accessories and on-the-water adventures, the Discover Boating Atlantic City Boat Show has something in store for every boat enthusiast. Not only will there be hundreds of vessels on display, but there will be plenty of interactive boating exhibits the whole family will love. The event takes place from Feb. 25 – March 1 at the Atlantic City Convention Center and expects 40,000 attendees, 572 room nights and $8,803,975 in economic impact.
Tri-State CAMP Conference 2026
The Tri-State CAMP Conference will take place from March 10 – 12 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The largest gathering of camp professionals in the world, attendees will come together to learn at over 160 educational sessions, find new products and services at the 300+ booth exhibit hall, and best of all, spend time with like-minded people who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of children. The event expects 3,900 attendees, 2,004 room nights and $2,788,358 in economic impact.
The C.H.A.M.P.S. Trade Show will take place March 17 – 19 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. One of the world’s leading B2B trade shows, C.H.A.M.P.S. brings together thousands of retailers, wholesalers, and industry professionals from the counterculture, smoke shop, vape, glass, and specialty product markets. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore hundreds of exhibitor booths, discover the latest products and trends, and connect with key brands and decision-makers from across the industry. The event expects 5,000 attendees, 315 room nights and $2,849,971 in economic impact.
The Impressions Expo is returning to the Atlantic City Convention Center March 26 – 28, providing individuals in the decorated apparel industry with a firsthand look into new products, services and trends that are shaping the industry. The Impressions Expo will be filled with top exhibitors ranging from apparel screen printing equipment, multi-head embroidery machines, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing options, heat-applied rhinestone designs, neon inks, performance stretch inks, sublimation equipment and more. The event expects 6,225 attendees, 1,905 room nights and $4,648,393 in economic impact.
Q1 SPORTING EVENTS IN ATLANTIC CITY
29th Annual Star Struck Invitational
From Jan. 16 – 18, the 29th Annual Starstruck Invitational will be returning to the Atlantic City Convention Center for a weekend filled with outstanding gymnastic competitions. The event expects 4,000 attendees, 1,080 room nights and $1,487,175 in economic impact.
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall will again be home to the NAPA Auto Parts Atlantic City Indoor Auto Racing Weekend Jan. 30 – 31. This year’s race weekend will showcase the high-speed TQ Midgets, purpose-built race cars powered by 750cc motorcycle engines, competing in main events on both nights on a 1/10th mile oval track set up on the arena floor. In addition to the TQ Midgets, the weekend will also host three support divisions: 600 Sprints, Slingshots, and Champ Karts, promising an action-packed lineup for motorsport enthusiasts. The show expects 4,806 attendees, 369 room nights and $1,424,448 in economic impact.
U.S. Futsal Northeast Regional Championship 2026
The U.S. Futsal Northeast Regional Championship, the largest Futsal Competition in the United States, will return to the Atlantic City Convention Center between Feb. 13 – 16. Futsal is a type of soccer that is played indoors on a court much smaller than a traditional soccer pitch. The smaller field size ensures a game of Futsal is fast-paced and more intense, with more opportunity for goal scoring. The event expects 7,000 attendees, 6,000 room nights and $5,766,771 in economic impact.
2026 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships
The 2026 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships (MAAC) will take place from March 5 – 10 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The MAAC basketball tournament determines the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s champion and the winner of the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The event expects 10,000 attendees, 1,928 room nights and $4,023,614 in economic impact.
NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships
Returning to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall from March 12 – 14, the 2026 NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships will showcase the top high school wrestlers from across the state. The event expects 23,125 attendees, 441 room nights and $4,080,479 in economic impact.
Taking place at the Atlantic City Convention Center from March 20 – 22, the Miles Chamley-Watson Cup is a premier fencing event for high-energy competition between young fencers. Started by Olympic champion Miles Chamley-Watson, this event showcases emerging talent within the next generation of the sport and promotes accessibility. This event expects 2,500 attendees, 1,100 room nights and $1,271,114 in economic impact.
Absolute Clash is another youth fencing tournament taking place at the Atlantic City Convention Center from March 27 – 29. Backed by Absolute Fencing Gear, this tournament features multiple age divisions and all three weapons, making the tournament a skill-building environment where young fencers can connect from across the area. This event expects 3,500 attendees, 1,400 room nights and $1,672,463 in economic impact.
